OVER THE GREAT WALL (MIKHAIAH)

Chapter 1

Mikha's POV

Naglalakad na kami ngayon papunta sa cafeteria ng school at honestly, medyo naa-awkward pa rin ako around her. And by the way, she smells great NGL.

"So, do they have Chinese food here?." Tanong ko.

"Oo naman, anong gusto mo? Pancit? Bihon? Siopao?." Sabi niya.

"I-I was kinda thinking about dumplings, dimsum, hot pot or anything with tofu hehe." Sabi ko.

"Ah, ganun ba? Wala yun dito eh. Pero meron kami ritong menudo, kaldereta, afritada, adobo at mga gulay-gulay lalo na dun sa suki kong si Kuya Berto, grabe the best in town." Sabi niya.

"O-okay uh--m-menudo sounds good." Sabi ko.

"It tastes good pa. Promise, di ka talaga magsisisi." Sabi niya.

So ayun, even though I'm on a diet tinry ko na rin. I mean to be fair, masarap sya. I-I mean itong menudo.

"See? Sabi sayo eh, basta luto ni Kuya Berto the best talaga. Kuya Berto, dalawang kanin pa nga po, thank you." Sabi ni Ate Aiah.

Well, let's just say she's nothing like I imagined her to be. But in a good way naman. 

"After this pala, san ka? I-I heard na half day lang ang class mo." Sabi ko.

"Ano, raket-raket. Minsan tumutulong ako dun sa catering business ng Tita ko pag may mga occasion gaya ng kasal, birthdays, fiesta, burol, graduation at marami pang iba. Sa gabi naman nagpapageant ako. Dagdag kita na rin." Sabi niya.

"Wait, you do pageantry?." Sabi ko, tila manghang-mangha sa kanya.

"I mean medyo may itsura naman tayo."

"I can see that." I agreed.

"Actually, dun kaya kami unang nagmeet ng Kuya mo. Alam mo ba dati, muntik na kaya ako masali sa finalists ng Mutya ng Pilipinas." Sabi niya.

"I-I don't think A-hia--I mean--Kuya na nga lang, I don't think Kuya is the type to be interested in watching pageants." Sabi ko.

"Hindi nga. Kasi napadaan lang talaga siya dun. May pageant kasi sa barangay namin nun kung san kasali ako, tapos yung Kuya mo parang may pupuntahan nun eh kaso nangyari sakop namin yung buong kalsada kaya bumaba siya ng sasakyan nya to check what's going on. Di naman sa ano ah pero ayun, nung nakita nya ko di na tumuloy sa pupuntahan nya nanood nalang. Hanggang sa ayun, hiningi nya na yung number ko pagkatapos." Kwento niya.

And I won't deny, nakakatuwa nga syang kasama.

"Tapos binigay mo agad?." Sabi ko.

"Syempre hindi no." Sabi nya.

"Mmm dalagang Filipina." Sabi ko.

"Hindi. Eh wala pa kasi akong selpon nun. Yung napanalunan ko naman ayun, binili nalang namin ng gamot para sa kapatid ko. Pero may konting ipon naman ako, malay mo bukas o sa makalawa makabili narin ako ng phone. Diba?" Kwento niya.

"Eh kung ganun, pano ka niligawan ng Kuya ko?. P-pano kayo nagcocommunicate?."

"Pinahanap nya ko. Siguro nagkita kami ulit after 7 months, then personal nya kong niligawan for another 10 months and last week ayun, sinagot ko na siya."Sabi niya.

"Hala, ba't antagal?." Sabi ko.

"Syempre, di na tayo mga bata. Marami nang responsibilities, nag-iiba na rin ang priorities natin sa buhay. Saka ayoko naman ng umaasa lang sa kahit sinong lalaki no, may mga pangarap din kaya ako, para sa sarili ko, at para sa pamilya at magiging pamilya ko. I'm sure ang Kuya mo ganun rin." She sincerely said.

SILENCE

"S-so, what made you say yes?." Tanong ko.

Ate Aiah paused for a moment, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. She took a deep breath before answering my question.

"It's because he showed me that he was willing to be a part of my dreams and support my goals." Ate Aiah said with a smile. 

"He didn't just ask me to be his girlfriend; he asked to be a part of my journey. He understood that my ambitions were important to me, and he wanted to be there every step of the way. It was his sincerity, patience, and unwavering support that made me realize he was the one."

I nodded, touched by Ate Aiah's words. 

It was clear that their relationship was built on mutual respect and a deep connection. I couldn't help but feel happy for my brother, knowing that he had found someone who truly cared for him.

As we finished our meal and continued to chat, I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, Ate Aiah was the perfect addition to our family. 

Of course, kung matututo syang makibagay sa mundo namin.

2 PM

Di ko parin sinasabi sa kanya yung plano ni Kuya Enzo kung saan tutuluruan ko si Aiah on how to be Chinese, and how to survive in our community.

Instead, sinamahan ko na muna siya sa mga raket niya. Now I'm helping her sa catering business ng Tita Mildred niya na medyo strict pala. Pinapagalitan nya ngayon yung ibang staffs niya dahil kukupad-kupad raw at malelate na sila sa venue.

Tumulong kami ni Aiah na isakay lahat sa mga van ang mga food, decorations, tables at chairs. Since di na kasya yung ibang decorations, sinakay nalang sa likod ng kotse ko at papunta na nga kami ngayon sa venue together with the vans.

"Pasensya ka na ah. Naabala ka pa talaga." Sabi ni Ate Aiah.

"It's okay Ate Aiah, wala rin naman akong lakad or gagawin. This is actually fun. And so far, ito siguro yung pinakamalayo na nadrive ko. And honestly, I'm so glad it was with you. Instant roadtrip with my furture sister-in law." Sabi ko.

"Girlfriend palang naman." Sabi niya.

"Eh kasi dun rin naman papunta yun Ate."

"Sabagay. Hay, buti nalang talaga you're nothing like I imagined." She confessed.

"Why? What were your assumptions of me ba? Haha." Sabi ko.

"I don't know, spoiled, entitled, sosyal, maarte, elitista." Sabi niya.

"Ouch." I jokingly said.

"Syempre, noon yun. Nung ikaw palang si Mikha Lim in pictures. Eh di naman kasi nagseshare ang Kuya mo about you eh. I mean sa totoo lang, he barely share anything about himself or sa pamilya nyo. Saka yung alam ko lang, he's an engineer sa isang maliit na firm tapos yung ginagawa nila ngayon eh yung isang convenience store sa Alabang." Sabi niya.

So, wala nga talaga syang idea about our family and our standing in the community. Malamang di to nagbabasa ng diyaryo. Well, she's right kasi Engineering naman talaga ang tinapos ni Kuya and it's all because our family business is in the Construction and Manufacturing Industry by which she clearly had no idea at malamang sa malamang di nya rin alam that Kuya gave me a task to shape her to be a qualified in-law. 

"Are you okay?." Nag-aalalang tanong nito.

"Y-yeah. Well, Kuya is Kuya. Medyo private kasi talaga yung tao. Saka lately, medyo busy nga yun." Sabi ko nalang at nagfocus nalang sa road.